| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora.--> |
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Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.
Annual to perennial herb; sap milky
Stems erect, 0.5–1.5+ m
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, entire to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: heads ligulate, many, in panicles; involucre cylindric; phyllaries in 2–several series; receptacle naked
Flowers few–many; ligules yellow or cream to blue, readily withering
Fruit flattened, short- or long-beaked; pappus of many bristles, falling separately
Species in genus: ± 100 species: ± worldwide temp
Etymology: (Latin: milky)
| Introduced |
Annual from taproot, 0.5–1.5 m
Stems erect, prickly-bristly
Leaves few–many, oblanceolate to obovate, dentate to coarsely lobed, clasping, prickly-bristly on midvein
Inflorescence open; branches often widely spreading; heads in flower 4–6 mm wide; involucre in fruit 10–12 mm
Flowers 14–20; corolla pale yellow
Fruit 6–7 mm (including beak), light to dark brown, rough-hairy, several-veined on each face, unwinged, beak = or > body; pappus 4–5 mm, white
Chromosomes: 2n=18
Ecology: Abundant. Weed of disturbed places
Elevation: < 2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
Flowering time: May–Sep
Synonyms: var. integra Gren. & Godr